Console Servers Price Comparison
Compare 166 console servers from ZPE, Opengear, Vertiv and more — find the best price on out-of-band management hardware for your data centre.
Console Servers price comparison UK
Console servers occupy a niche that most IT teams only think about when something has gone badly wrong — and that's precisely why choosing the right one matters so much. These devices provide out-of-band access to routers, switches, and servers when the primary network is down, making them the last line of defence in any serious data centre or remote site deployment. Our catalogue covers 166 products, with prices ranging from 0 £ for compact entry-level units up to 0 £ for fully-loaded enterprise platforms.
ZPE dominates this market numerically, accounting for the lion's share of listings with an average price that reflects their enterprise positioning. Opengear and Vertiv Avocent are the names most frequently specified by network engineers in the UK, and for good reason — both offer mature software stacks, solid SSH/SSL security, and reliable dual-power configurations. Black Box and Tripp Lite sit at the more accessible end of the spectrum, with Tripp Lite's B093 series starting below 0 £, making them a realistic option for smaller deployments or branch offices that need basic serial console access without the full enterprise overhead.
What separates a capable console server from a merely adequate one is rarely the port count — it's the resilience features. Dual Gigabit NICs, redundant AC or DC power supplies, integrated analogue modems for true out-of-band fallback, and onboard 4G/5G LTE connectivity are the details that determine whether your team can actually reach a failed device at 2am. The ZPE Nodegrid range, for instance, offers 5G LTE (CAT20) as an option on 48-port models, which is increasingly relevant for UK sites where cellular out-of-band is replacing legacy PSTN modem lines. For serial servers handling lighter workloads, or if you need to extend connectivity further, our serial converters and repeaters category covers complementary hardware worth considering alongside your console server purchase.
One pattern worth noting: the jump from entry-level to mid-range is steep. The gap between the cheapest units and the median price reflects a genuine difference in capability — not just port count, but redundancy, security features, and management software quality. If your infrastructure is business-critical, skimping to save on a console server is a false economy. Compare offers carefully across retailers; prices on identical SKUs can vary significantly between specialist resellers and the larger platforms like Amazon.co.uk or Insight. Our interface hubs section is also worth a look if your deployment requires broader connectivity management alongside out-of-band access.
How to Choose a Console Server: A Practical Guide for Network Engineers
Most buying decisions in this category are driven by one question: how many devices do I need to manage, and what happens when the network goes down? The answers determine almost everything else. Console servers are not impulse purchases — the wrong spec can leave your team locked out of critical infrastructure at the worst possible moment.
Port count and future headroom
The obvious starting point is how many serial ports you need today — but buy for tomorrow. Standard configurations run at 4, 8, 16, 32, and 48 ports. A 4-port unit like the Tripp Lite B093-004-2E4U suits a small branch office or lab environment, while a 48-port model is the standard for a populated rack in a proper data centre. The mistake most teams make is buying exactly what they need now and finding themselves short within 18 months. If you're managing more than 20 devices, go straight to 32 or 48 ports — the price difference rarely justifies the operational headache of deploying a second unit later.
Redundant power: single AC vs dual AC/DC
This is non-negotiable for production environments. A console server with a single power supply is a single point of failure in the very device you rely on when everything else has failed. Dual AC configurations are the minimum for any site with an SLA. Dual AC/DC is worth specifying if your rack has both AC and DC power rails — common in telecoms and carrier environments. Hot-swap capability adds another layer of resilience. Budget units from Tripp Lite and Black Box typically offer single AC; Vertiv Avocent and ZPE Nodegrid models at mid-range and above generally include dual power as standard.
Out-of-band connectivity: modem, 4G/5G LTE
The whole point of a console server is access when the primary network is unavailable. If your out-of-band path relies on the same network infrastructure that's failed, you've defeated the purpose. An integrated analogue modem provides PSTN fallback — still relevant in many UK sites, though BT's PSTN switch-off programme is gradually changing this. Increasingly, 4G LTE (CAT12) or 5G LTE (CAT20) cellular modules are the preferred out-of-band path, particularly for remote or unmanned sites. ZPE's Nodegrid range offers both options. Factor in the ongoing SIM card cost, but don't let it deter you — cellular out-of-band is far more reliable than a modem line in 2026.
Security: SSH, SSL/TLS, and authentication integration
Console servers sit on the management plane of your entire infrastructure — they need to be treated accordingly. At minimum, look for SSH 2.0 and SSL/TLS 1.2 or higher for encrypted sessions. LDAP and RADIUS integration is essential in any enterprise environment where you need centralised authentication and audit trails. TACACS+ support is worth checking if your team already uses Cisco ISE or a similar AAA platform. Avoid any unit that still relies on Telnet as its primary access method — that's a red flag on a device that can reach every piece of kit in your rack.
Management software and API integration
The hardware is only half the story. A console server you can't integrate into your existing monitoring stack — whether that's Nagios, Zabbix, Ansible, or a commercial NMS — will create operational friction. Look for a REST API, SNMP support, and ideally a vendor-maintained software platform with regular updates. ZPE's Nodegrid OS and Opengear's Operations Manager are both well-regarded in this respect. Vertiv Avocent's DSView software adds centralised management across multiple units, which matters once you have more than two or three console servers in your estate. Proprietary web interfaces with no API are a liability at scale.
Flash storage and logging capacity
Often overlooked until it causes a problem. Console servers log every session — commands, timestamps, connection events — and that data is invaluable for troubleshooting and compliance. A 2 GB flash allocation fills up faster than you'd expect in a busy environment. 4 GB is the practical minimum; 16 GB (as found on ZPE Nodegrid models) gives you meaningful local retention before you need to ship logs to a syslog server. If your organisation has audit or compliance requirements (PCI-DSS, ISO 27001), check whether the vendor's logging format integrates cleanly with your SIEM.
- Entry-level and branch office (From 0 £ to 0 £) : Tripp Lite dominates this segment with their B093 series — compact units with 4 or 8 ports, dual GbE NICs, and USB ports for basic deployments. HPE's single listing also falls here. Suitable for small offices, labs, or non-critical remote sites. Don't expect redundant power or cellular out-of-band at this price point. A reasonable starting point, but not for anything production-critical.
- The workhorse tier (From 0 £ to 0 £) : Black Box, ATEN, and lower-end Opengear and Vertiv models occupy this range. You start to see dual NIC configurations, better security feature sets, and more robust build quality. Opengear's CM series is a solid choice here for teams that want a mature management platform without the full ZPE premium. Good value for mid-sized deployments.
- Enterprise standard (From 0 £ to 0 £) : This is where most serious data centre deployments land. ZPE Nodegrid, Vertiv Avocent ACS8000, and Opengear IM series feature prominently. Expect dual AC power, 32–48 ports, integrated cellular options, REST APIs, and enterprise authentication. The Vertiv ACS8032 and ZPE NSC Plus 32-port sit comfortably in this band. The right choice for any site with uptime requirements.
- High-density and mission-critical (Over 0 £) : ZPE's higher-end Nodegrid configurations with 5G LTE, dual DC power, and maximum port counts, alongside Vertiv's largest ACS8000 configurations. Justified for carrier-grade environments, large co-location facilities, or deployments where the cost of a single outage dwarfs the hardware investment. ZPE's average price of over 0 £ reflects how much of their catalogue sits at this level.
Top products
- Tripp Lite B093-004-2E4U 4-Port Console Server with Dual GB NIC, 4Gb Flash and 4 USB Ports (Tripp Lite) : The most accessible entry point in the catalogue — dual GbE NICs and 4 USB ports at the lowest price point we list. Perfectly adequate for a small branch office or lab; don't expect it to carry a production data centre.
- Vertiv Avocent 48-Port ACS8000 Console System with dual AC Power Supply - ACS8048DAC-404 (Vertiv) : The flagship Vertiv Avocent configuration — 48 ports with dual AC redundancy is the standard spec for a fully populated rack. Mature DSView software integration is a genuine advantage; the price reflects it.
- Vertiv Avocent 8-Port ACS 8000 with single AC Power Supply - ACS8008SAC-404 (Vertiv) : A solid mid-range entry from Vertiv's ACS8000 line, but the single AC power supply is a meaningful limitation for anything business-critical. Fine for secondary sites; upgrade to dual AC if uptime matters.
- ZPE Nodegrid Serial Console Plus NSC Plus 32-port Cisco Rolled, Dual AC, 4-Core Intel CPU, 4GB DDR4, 16GB SSD, 2 SFP, 2 GbE, 2 USB 3.0, Analog Modem, 1 console (ZPE) : The ZPE Nodegrid NSC Plus 32-port is arguably the most well-rounded unit in the catalogue — 4-core Intel CPU, 16GB SSD, dual AC, SFP uplinks, and an analogue modem for legacy out-of-band. The Nodegrid OS is best-in-class for automation integration. Premium price, but justified for serious deployments.
- ZPE Nodegrid Serial Console Plus NSC Plus 48-port Cisco Rolled, Dual AC, 4-Core Intel CPU, 4GB DDR4, 16GB SSD, 2 SFP, 2 GbE, 2 USB 3.0, 5G LTE (CAT20), 1 console (ZPE) : The 5G LTE (CAT20) variant of ZPE's 48-port NSC Plus is the most future-proof option in the entire catalogue. Cellular out-of-band at CAT20 speeds is overkill for most sites today, but for unmanned remote facilities or edge deployments, it's the right call. Expect to pay accordingly.
Related categories
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a console server and how does it differ from a KVM switch?
A console server provides serial (RS-232/RJ-45) access to the management ports of network devices — routers, switches, servers — over IP, primarily for out-of-band management when the main network is unavailable. A KVM switch, by contrast, gives you keyboard, video, and mouse control over a server's graphical interface. Console servers are specifically designed for CLI-based network infrastructure management; KVM switches are for servers that need desktop-level access. The two are complementary, not interchangeable.
How many ports do I actually need for a typical server rack?
A fully populated 42U rack with a mix of servers, switches, and routers will typically require 16 to 32 serial ports on your console server. A practical rule: count every device with a dedicated management or console port, add 20% headroom, then round up to the next standard port count (8, 16, 32, 48). Under-specifying is a common and costly mistake — a second console server unit adds complexity and cost that a larger initial purchase would have avoided.
Is an integrated analogue modem still worth having in 2026?
It depends on your site's connectivity options. With BT's PSTN switch-off well underway across the UK, analogue modem lines are becoming harder to provision reliably, and 4G/5G LTE cellular out-of-band is now the more practical choice for most new deployments. That said, some legacy sites and certain regulated environments still maintain PSTN lines specifically for out-of-band access. If you're specifying a new installation, prioritise cellular LTE over analogue modem — but don't pay a significant premium for a modem-equipped model if cellular is available.
What's the difference between dual AC and dual AC/DC power on a console server?
Dual AC means the unit has two independent AC power inputs, so it can draw from two separate AC circuits or UPS units — the standard redundancy configuration for most data centres. Dual AC/DC means the unit accepts both AC and DC power inputs simultaneously, which is essential in telecoms and carrier environments where DC power rails (typically -48V) are standard alongside AC. Unless you're working in a telecoms facility or a carrier-grade data centre, dual AC is sufficient. Specifying dual AC/DC when you only have AC power available adds cost without benefit.
Can I manage multiple console servers from a single interface?
Yes, and for estates with more than two or three units, centralised management is strongly advisable. Vertiv's DSView software, ZPE's Nodegrid OS, and Opengear's Operations Manager all provide single-pane-of-glass management across multiple devices. REST APIs on modern units also allow integration with infrastructure-as-code tooling like Ansible or Terraform, which is increasingly how larger UK enterprises manage their out-of-band infrastructure. Check the vendor's software licensing model carefully — some charge per-device fees that can significantly affect total cost of ownership.
Are cheap console servers from lesser-known brands worth considering?
Generally, no — and this is one category where we'd actively caution against it. A console server is the device you reach for when everything else has failed; this is not the moment to discover that your budget unit has unreliable firmware, poor SSH implementation, or a vendor that no longer issues security patches. Stick to established names: ZPE, Opengear, Vertiv Avocent, Black Box, and Tripp Lite all have track records and active support organisations in the UK market. The entry-level Tripp Lite B093 series represents the floor of what we'd recommend — anything significantly cheaper should be treated with scepticism.
What security features should a console server have as a minimum?
At minimum: SSH 2.0 for encrypted CLI sessions, SSL/TLS 1.2 or higher for web management, and either RADIUS or LDAP integration for centralised authentication. Role-based access control (RBAC) is essential if multiple team members need access at different privilege levels. Full session logging with tamper-evident audit trails is required for PCI-DSS and ISO 27001 compliance. Any unit that still exposes Telnet as a management option without the ability to disable it should be rejected outright — that's an unacceptable risk on a device with access to your entire infrastructure management plane.